PlatformsYouTube
Limitations - YouTube
Known limitations when using YouTube through ScoutSocial.
YouTube limitations
Upload restrictions
- Video only - YouTube is a video platform; you cannot publish text or image-only posts via the API
- File size - Maximum 256GB per video
- Processing time - Large videos may take time to process on YouTube's servers
- Daily upload quota - YouTube enforces API quota limits; very high upload volumes may be throttled
API quota
YouTube limits the number of daily API operations. For most users, this means approximately 6 video uploads per day. If you run into upload limits, contact ScoutSocial support.
Content restrictions
- No post editing - Video metadata can be updated, but the video file itself cannot be replaced
- No community posts - Community tab posts are not available via the API
- No live streaming - Live stream management is not supported through ScoutSocial
- No playlist management - Playlist creation and management is not available
Thumbnail requirements
- Custom thumbnails require a verified YouTube account
- Maximum 2MB file size
- Recommended size: 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9)
Scheduling
- YouTube scheduling sets the video as private with a future publish date
- The video must be fully uploaded and processed before the scheduled time
- Scheduled videos cannot be rescheduled through the API (must be done in YouTube Studio)
Analytics
- Video analytics may have a 24-48 hour delay
- Detailed analytics (viewer demographics, traffic sources) are available via the YouTube Analytics API in the post's insights panel, shown when you open the post from My Posts, provided the account was reconnected with the analytics scope
- Basic metrics: views, likes, comments, and (as the channel owner) dislikes